Formula 1 has made the right call in abandoning this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, at Imola, and doing so in swift and decisive fashion.
The Emilia Romagna region has been struck by devastating flooding and landslides following excessive rainfall since Tuesday morning.
In the worst-affected regions up to 20 inches of rain – half the annual total – has fallen, causing rivers to burst their banks, with the situation accentuated by the water pouring from the valleys above.
The latest update provided by the Emilia Romagna government confirmed that there have been eight fatalities, with an unknown number missing, while thousands of residents have been displaced.
Some communities have been cut off by the floods, landslides and destroyed bridges, while other hotels that were due to welcome Formula 1 personnel have been repurposed as recovery centres. There have also been power outages.
Firefighters, law enforcement agencies and other rescue services – including those from neighbouring regions – have been deployed to assist the public.
While weather conditions have now eased authorities have extended the red alert – in operation since Tuesday – until Thursday due to the high water levels and continued risk of flooding amid swollen rivers and plains.
The logistics of arranging a major international sporting event in such conditions were immutable, while guaranteeing safety was not possible, let alone the optics of holding a grand prix in such circumstances. Even a behind-closed-doors Covid-style race, restricting access to essential personnel only, would have added undue pressure to those stretched emergency services.
What was said?
Formula 1 teams and drivers have understandably backed the call not to race this weekend, prioritising the relief efforts in the region.
“On behalf of everyone working at Scuderia Ferrari I would like to express our deepest sympathy to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy,” said Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur. “Emilia-Romagna is our homeland and it’s heart-breaking to see what people are going through at the moment.”
Haas F1 Team boss Guenther Steiner added: “Many of our track personnel having already seen for themselves the impact it’s having on the people and the area. We are fully supportive of Formula 1 and the FIA’s decision to not proceed with this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. We will continue to keep the local community in mind, their on-going safety is paramount, and we express our thanks to the authorities and emergency services in the region for their tireless efforts at this challenging time.”
Yuki Tsunoda, who resides in Faenza, posted: “After a horrible night the town is heavily impacted: dust, mud, and the smell of gasoline everywhere. Currently people are struggling to find food and especially places to stay, after many have been evacuated from their own homes.”
AlphaTauri has also shared a link to a donation page for those affected by the floods.
What happens next?
Formula 1’s early call will have prevented the later arrivals – such as drivers, some media/broadcasters, selected team personnel (mostly senior) and the majority of fans – from making the journey to Imola on Wednesday afternoon or later. Formula 1’s own team was awaiting departure from Biggin Hill when the call was made to abandon proceedings.
Those non-essential personnel already on the ground in Bologna – the nearest major city to Imola – are in the process of returning back to base.
Essential personnel already on the ground, such as those tasked with erecting motorhomes, setting up temporary facilities and installing infrastructure, were instructed to leave the circuit on Tuesday afternoon and not permitted to enter the circuit on Wednesday.
It is hoped that those personnel will be permitted access on Thursday for the pack-up process to move equipment onwards to Monaco, or back to base.
The Formula 1 paddock has not been flooded but the support race paddock, along with the broadcast compound, has been affected by the nearby Santerno river bursting its banks.
Track action will resume with the Monaco Grand Prix next Friday.
What about the race?
The wording of Formula 1’s official statement was that “the decision has been taken not to proceed with the Grand Prix weekend at Imola.”
The Automobile Club d’Italia, the event promoters, outlined that the event has been cancelled ‘due to force majeure’, which would absolve the payment of a race fee.
Even accounting for tenuous wording over postponements or cancellations it is almost impossible to envisage the grand prix being rescheduled later in the year due to the congested nature of Formula 1’s calendar. Shortening the summer break is unlikely to be seriously considered.
That would mean Formula 1’s initial 24-event calendar – which featured China before its early cancellation – would reduce to 22 grands prix, itself still equalling last year’s record duration.
ACI Chairman Angelo Sticchi Damiani suggested that Imola’s contract, which currently expires after 2025, could be extended to 2026 as compensation, but emphasised “at the moment it is certainly not a priority.”
The organisation also outlined that information for spectators who planned to attend the event would be provided in the coming days.
